Cost is in round numbers
£116,500.
The Mint alone will cost,
it is estimated, including Salaries
Calculated £50,000
£10,000 gr.
L
3. The Actual Surplus or deficiency in each year exhibited
is shown in the 1st page.
4. Taxes. There are allegations by the Memorialists that they are heavier than in any other Colony. - The total population is 124,850. 99 per cent are Chinese & nearly 50,000 live in boats.
The amount to be realized by the Taxes to which the Memorialists especially refer, viz., Police, Water, Light is £34,583 (11..1865).
From every source, including Wharfage, etc., the Memorialists expect that the total will be derived. The remainder of the Fixed Revenue, which altogether amounts to about £100,000 a year, is derived from Rents, Spirit Licences, Fees for registration of deeds, etc., which I conclude may be regarded as direct taxation.
Hongkong being a free port, there is no indirect taxation, such as Customs duties.
Compared with Ceylon, Hongkong is heavily taxed, but then the latter Colony is non-productive...